Single-trigger fire mechanism for double-barrel guns



July 7, 1925. 1,544,673 v E. E. MILLER SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed July 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 7, 1925. 1,544,673

E. E. MSLLER SINGLE TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE BARREL GUNS Filed July 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES ELMER MILLER, OF MILLERSIBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SINGLE-TRIGGER FIRE MECHANISM FOR DOUBLE-BARREL GUNS.

Application filed July 10,1924. Serial No. 725,237.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELMER E. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Millersburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single- Trigger Fire Mechanisms for Double-Barrel Guns, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to single trigger fire mechanisms for double barrel guns and has for an important object thereof an improvement of the structures shown in my prior Patents #1,356,779, granted October 26, 1920, #1,4 -7 5,310, granted November27, 1923, and #1,494,753, granted May 20, 1924, and a combination of certain portions of the structures of these patents with a view to provide a trigger mechanism of this character which will be extremel simple in its construction and operation, urable in service and a general improvement in the art. further and more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction of this character including a transversely oscillating sear-operated trip mounted upon the trigger after the manner shown in my prior Patent #1,475,310, together with a selector spring controlling the position of this trigger trip having a camming contour engaged by a pivoted lever operated from the selector mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which .the construction of the coacting hammers move downwardly so that they engage against this trip, the trip having a cam surface which by its engagement with the sear causes the trip to be moved into position for engagement with the other or one operated sear.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of this character in which the operation of the trip is such that the selector mechanism is ineffective to effect a change of selection after one of the barrels has been fired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved recoil-operated trigger carried cam preventing doubling by its coaction with a fixed portion of the breech.

The invention further resides in the strucside of the gun;

Figure 3 is a View similar to that shown in Figure 1 with the parts ready to fire the left-hand barrel of the gun;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the parts in position for firing the right-hand barrel of the gun;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a View of the right-hand side of the breech mechanism, the parts being in the position assumed after rebound of the gun following the firing of a charge therein;

Figure 7 is a sectional view on the line 77 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a similar view taken from Figure 3, where the parts are in a position for initial firing of the left-hand barrel;

Figures 9 and 10 are successive views of the operation after the trigger has been pulled, Figure 9 disclosing the left-hand sear in the act of moving downwardly and engaging the trip to shift the same, and Figure 10 showing the trip shifted but with the trigger held in lowered position by the cam 44;

Figure 11 is an enlarged side elevation of the recoil-operated cam. v

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 generally designates a shot-gun breech mechanism including an upper tang 11 and lower tang 12. This lower tang is provided with the usual opening 13 through which operates a trigger 14, the upper end of the trigger being in the form of a plate 15, the forward end of which projects between upstanding ears 16 carried 100 with. These sears have the usual forward no ends 21 urged upwardly by springs 22 for engagement with shoulders 23 to malntam the hammer 19 in cocked position. In accordance with my invention, the under surface of the hammer, immediately forwardly of this shoulder, is ground or otherwise reduced to provide a cove 24 in which the forward end 21 of the sear 22 engages after the hammer is released, this cove being of suflicient depth to cause the rear end of the sear 20 to be depressed after the hammer is operated. These rear ends of the scars 20 are provided with angularly disposed portions 25 overlying the trigger plate 15.

Immediately below the angular portions 25 the trigger plate is provided with a cove 26 within which is pivoted a sear trip 27 upon a pivot 28 extending longitudinally of the trigger. The trip 27 is pivoted at its lower end and has its upper end in the form of a cam 29 having downwardly sloping sides for a purpose presently to appear. The inner lower edges of the angular portions 25 of the sear are preferably slightly beveled as at 30. The lower end of this sear trip is provided with oppositely directed wings 31 overlying the lower tang 12 at the sides of the trigger opening 13.

Arranged rearwardly of the rear end of the tail of the trigger is a vertical standard 32 extending longitudinally of the tang 12. At its upper end the standard 32 is provided with a forwardly extending ear 33 overlying the rear end of the tail 17 of the trigger plate and to which a lever 34 is centrally pivoted. The upper end of this lever 34 engages one end of a' spring 35, the central portion of which is mounted upon the guide lug 36 of the usual safety plate 37 and the rear end of which coacts with positioning notches 38 formed in the under surface of the upper tang 11. These notches are preferably three in number and correspond to positions indicating right, left or safe, the safe notch being centrally disposed. In Figure 1 I have illustrated this lever and the safety plate as in the safe or neutral position and in this position the lower end of the lever overlies the pin 18 of the trigger tail holding the trigger in lowered position and preventing operation thereof. With the lever at either side of this position as, for example, in either of the positions illustrated in Figures 3 or 4, the trigger may be operated to bring the sear trip 27 into engagement with the angular portions 25 of the scars.

Adjacent its rear edge, the support 32 is provided with an outstanding lug 39 forming a mounting for the rear end of a spring 40, the forward end of which is engaged in an opening formed in the upper end of the sear trip 27 as indicated at 41. This spring, intermediate its ends, is provided with a cam shaping 42, this cam shaping of the spring occurring at the point of contact of the spring with the inner face of the lower end of the lever 34. If the lower end of the lever is moved forwardly, the spring is released and the forward end thereof moves under its own tension in such a manner as to throw the upper end of the sear trip 27 beneath the angular portion 25 of the lefthand sear. If, on the contrary, the lower end of the lever is moved rearwardly, its engagement against this cam surface causes the forward end of the spring to be moved in the opposite direction and the upper end of the sear trip to be moved beneath the right-hand sear.

Pivoted' to the tail of the trigger upon a pivot, preferably formed by a continuation of the pin 18 through arms 43 formed on the trigger by slotting the tail of the trigger, is a cam 44, this cam having a forward face 45 terminating at its lower end in a forwardly directed shoulder 46. The rear portion of the upper surface of the cam, indicated at 47, provides a stop surface, this surface having its forward edge of slightly less distance spaced from the pivot point of the cam than its rear edge, that is to say, of the two radii A and B shown in Figure 11 the forward radius or radius A is the shorter. This cam operates against the side of the support 32 opposite from that upon which the lever 34 is arranged, and projecting outwardly from the support 34 at this side, and more particularly at the forwardly projecting ear thereof, is a stop pin 48 preferably formed by a continuation of the pivot of the lever 34. The upper edge of the support 32 is provided adjacent its rear end with an angularly extending flange 49, the forward edge of which is spaced from the pin 48 a distance slightly greater than the distance between the face 49 of the cam and the rear face 50 thereof, so that the upper portion of the cam may operate between these surfaces. The lower end of the cam has a rearwardly projecting tail 51 which is connected with the flange 49 by means of a spring 52 which normally urges the cam 44 upwardly and the upper end thereof forwardly, so that this surface 45 is normally maintained in engagement with the stop pin 48. The tension of this spring likewise normally holds the rear end of the tail of the trigger slightly elevated as shown in Figspaced below the under surfacesof the overlying portions of the sears 20. When released from neutral position, the spring elevates the rear end of the trigger until the trip comes into engagement with these surfaces. It will thus beseen that there is no lost motion whatever between the trip and the sear sections'which it engages when the trigger is positioned for firing, thereby insuring a steady trigger pull operation, no necessity for taking up slack in the trigger, and the shortest possible pull to trip the hammers for operation.

The operation of the firing mechanism is as follows: Assuming the gun to have been loaded, cooked and placed in the safe position, the mechanism of the breech appears when viewed from the left-hand side of the gun as viewed in Figure 1, and when viewed from the right as shown in Figure 2, while the relative positions of the trip 27 and overhanging portions 25 of the sear are as illustated in the sectional view shown in Figure 7, the lower surfaces of these sear portionsbeing arranged above the upper surface of the sear trip. The spring 40 is of such construction that under its natural tension it will tend to swing the upper end of the trip beneath one of the sears, in the present instance beneath the left-hand sear, to the position shown in the sectional view of Figure 8. This movement of the trip by the spring is, however, prevented by the lower end of the lever 34 and movement of the trigger is prevented by this same lever. Assuming now the slide or selector 37 is moved to a position indicating firing of the left barrel, which is in the position of the slide and lever illustrated in Figure 3, the lower end of the lever has beenmoved forwardly, releasing the trigger for forward movement and releasing the spring to permit its tension to move this sear trip to the position shown in Figure 8 where its upper end lies below the angular portion 25 of the leftshand sear, if the trigger is now operated the trip in its upward movement trips the left-hand sear releasing its hammer and firing the left-hand barrel.

, The force of the explosion causes the gun .to move rearwardly and since the gun is more solidly braced from the rear end beneath, a decided upward jerk results from the explosion, the component of these forces moving the breech in the general direction of the arrow E of Figure 3. The trigger, being pivoted at its forward end and having the movement of its rear end resisted only by the spring, is free to move downwardly as the result of such movement by its own inertia, but at the same time the bodily rearward movement of the gun releases the finger from the trigger permitting forward movement of the lower end of the trigger, so that the trigger moves downwardly to its lowest possible position or where the under surface of the tail engages the upper surface of the lower tang 12. When in this position the movement of the gun is reversed, tending to move in the opposite direction from the arrow E with the result that the weight or cam carried by the tail of the trigger, which by its intertia tends to remain stationary upon reversal of movement, is thrown rear- Wardly placing its Weight against the tail of the trigger and the spring tending to maintain the trigger in this lowered position. In this lowered position the junction of the rear portion of the upper face, indicated at 47, and the rear face of the cam clears the forward end of the flange 49 so that this face A7 may pass beneath this cam. As the forward movement continues, the trigger again comes into contact with the finger of the shooter which tends to move the trigger upwardly and in ordinary cases cause firing of the second barrel or What is known as double firing.

The surface 47 being beneath the flange 49, however, prevents this movement and as long as the finger remains in en agement with the trigger, the trigger wi 1 be positively held against upward movement by the cam. A slight release of the trigger will release the spring 52 to shift the cam forward against the stop 48 when the trigger may again be operated. When the left-hand sear has been released its forward end enters the cove 24, so that the rear end of the sear may occupy a lower position than it does when in the cooked position. lVhen the parts assume successively the position shown in Figures 9 and 10, the sear in its downward movement engaging against the upper end of the trip, the beveled corner of the sear engaging the cam as shown in the first of these figures and causing the cam to be moved to the position shown in the second of these figures where it is beneath the right-hand sear and positioned for engagement therewith. When these movements have been effected, the rear end of the, tripped sear is spaced from the support of the trip a distance less than the height of the trip so that the trip may not again enter beneath the trip sear to operate the same. This being true, if after firing a single barrel the slide 37 is moved to safe position regardless of which direction it is moved from this safe position, either to the position where itindicates rightor left, the trip will remain positioned to release the under trip, the sear thus preventing balking. When the right-hand barrel is first selected, these operations are, of course, reversed and are identical with the exception of such reversal. The shoulder 46 of the cam coming into engagement with the stop pin 48 insures against movement of the firing finger so far to the rear that the trigger will re-engage the finger after firing before the cam is positioned beneath the shoulder or flange 49.

It will be obvious that in applying this invention to different makes of guns, the structure hereinbefore set forth must be in some degree modified to permit its adaption, and I accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure as hereinbefore set forth except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim 1. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the trip and constantly urging it to a. position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears.

2. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears. upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the trip and constantly urging it to a pos1- tion where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears and in each of its positions limiting the movement of the trip under the influence of said spring.

3. In a single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring en gaging the trip and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positionsio shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears,

said lever in another of its positions coacting with said trigger to prevent operation thereof.

4. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the tri and constantly urging it to a position wl iere it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears, said lever in another of its positions coacting with said trigger to prevent operation thereof and in each of its positions limiting the movement of the trip under the influence of said spring.

5. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a breech for the gun, a trigger pivoted thereto, a pair of sears carried thereby, a trip pivoted on the trigger to swing to positions where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring fixed at one end to the breech and having its opposite end engaged with said trip and normally urging said trip into a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shifta-ble lever engaging the spring and in one of its positions shifting the spring and thereby the trip to a position for engagement with the other of said sears upon operation of the trigger.

6. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a breech for the gun, a trigger pivoted thereto, a pair of sears carried thereby, a trip pivoted on the trigger to swing to positions where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring fixed at one end to the breech and having its opposite end engaged with said trip and normally urging said trip into a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever engaging the spring and in one of its positions shifting the spring and thereby the trip to a position for engagement with the other of said sears upon operation of the trigger and in another of its positions releasing the spring to permit it to move the trip to the first named position.

7. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a breach for the gun, a trigger by, a trip pivoted on the trigger to swing to positions where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring fixed at one end to the breech and having its opposite end engaged with said trip and normally urging said trip into a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever engaging the spring and in one of its positions shifting the spring and thereby the trip' to a. position for engagement with the other of said sears upon operation of the trigger and in another of its posit-ions releasing the spring to permit it to move the trip to the first named position,said lever in a position intermediate said positions engaging the trigger to prevent operation thereof.

8. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a breech for the gun, a trigger pivoted thereto, a pair of sears carried thereby, a trip pivoted on the trigger to swing to positions where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring fixed at one end to the breech and having its 0ppivoted thereto, a pair of sears carried thereposite end engaged with said trip and normally urging said trip int-o a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, said spring intermediate its ends being bent to form a cam, and a lever operable from the exterior of the breech engaging the cam portion of the spring to control the sear trip in its positioning.

. -9. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a breech for the gun, a trigger plvoted thereto, a pair of sears carried thereby, a trip pivoted on the trigger to swing to positions where it engages either of the scars upon operation of the trigger, a spring fixed at one end to the breech and having its opposite end engaged with said trip and normally urging said trip into a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, said spring intermediate its ends being bent to form a cam, and a lever operable trom the exterior of the breech engaging the cam portion of the spring to control the sear trip in its positioning, said lever in one position holding said trigger against operation.

10. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger toswing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring operatively engaging the trigger and normally maintaining the trip in engagement with the sears, a second spring engaging the trip and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a suitable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other-0f said sears, said lever in another of its positions shifting the trigger downwardly and holding the trigger in downwardly shifted position to prevent operation of the trigger and to free the trip from engagement with the sear.

11. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the-trigger to swing in a positlon where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the trip .and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears, said sears when operated moving toward the trigger and when in fully operated position being spaced from the trigger a distance less than the length of the trip.

12. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon 0 eration of the trigger, a spring engaging.

t e trip and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, and a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears, said sears when operated moving toward the trigger and when in fully operated position being spaced from the trigger a distance less than the length of the trip, the upper surface of the trip having a cam face with which the sear engages in its movement toward the trigger to force the trip transversely of the trigger for engagement with the other of the scars.

13. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the trip and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears, the trigger havingla-tail, a fixed stop carried by the breec a cam pivoted to the tail and in the lowermost position of the trigger swingable beneath the fixed stop, and a spring maintaining the trigger above such lowermost position at all times except during recoil of the gun after firing and the initial rebound movement of the gun from the shoulder.

14. In single trigger mechanism for double barrel guns, a trigger, a pair of sears, a trip pivoted to the trigger to swing in a position where it engages either of,the sears upon operation of the trigger, a spring engaging the trip and constantly urging it to a position where it engages one of the sears upon operation of the trigger, a shiftable lever operatively engaging the trip in one of its positions to shift 1t to the engagement with the other 0 said sears, the trigger havin a tail, a fixed stop carried by the breec a cam pivoted to the tail and in the lowermost position of the trigger swingable beneath the fixed stop, and a. spring maintaining the trigger above such lowermost position at all times except durin recoil of the gun after firing and the' imtial rebound movement of the gun from the shoulder said spring connecting said cam and the breech and normally urging the upper end of the cam forwardly.

osition for 15. In single trigger mechanism for double positions to shift it to the position for engagement with the other of said sears, the trigger having a tail, a fixed stop carried by the breech, a cam pivoted to the tail and in the lowermost position of the trigger swingable beneath the fixed stop, a spring maintaining the trigger above such lowermost position at all times except during recoil of the gun after firing and the initial rebound movement of the gun from the shoulder, said spring connecting said cam and the breech and normally urging the upper end of the cam forwardly, and a stop ooacting with the forward face of the cam limiting its forward movement under influence of the spring and engaging a shoulder on the cam to limit upward movement of the trigger.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ELMER E. MILLER. 

